GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been accused of bribing doctors in China in order to boost sales. Chinese government officials say they have uncovered evidence of a bribery scheme involving 700 travel agencies who were used to funnel as much as three billion yuan ($480 million) in payments.

Allegations about bribes at GSK first surfaced in January of this year in a series of tips made by an anonymous individual to company officials. The whistleblower alleged that the UK company made payments of $249 to $490 to promote Botox, a toxin used for medical purposes as well as for cosmetic purposes to get rid of wrinkles.

"I recommend that everyone else use a private email account because it will be better that way," Ruiting "Candy" Chen, Glaxo central nervous system marketing manager said in an email translated by the Journal. "Remember you must send to personal email accounts, you accidentally sent to [another sales team member's] public mail, careful next time!” wrote Any Zheng, Botox regional sales manager.

Chinese media reported on Monday that GSK allegedly made payments to the
travel agencies which then transferred the money to doctors via credit cards when they
made prescriptions. The travel agencies booked the payments for travel
expenses to fake meetings.

In reality, the comment by the Journal reporters reflects a bias on their part. GSK has been found guilty of routinely offering U.S. doctors lavish payments for promoting company products, despite the absence of a state health care system.